Bill to help authorities probe online activities raises widespread privacy fears – Winnipeg Free Press
Publish Date: 2026-05-10 06:00:00
Source Domain: www.winnipegfreepress.com
OTTAWA – A Liberal government bill that would make it easier for police and spies to navigate the online world is running into fierce opposition from major digital companies, civil liberties groups and law professors who say it would open the door to serious privacy infringements.
The government says the bill — “An Act respecting lawful access” — will ensure law enforcement agencies have the legal tools to prevent, investigate and respond to modern crime and protect Canadians in a manner consistent with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Opponents argue the legislation unnecessarily expands the powers of police and intelligence agencies, endangering the privacy of Canadians, flouting the Charter and making Canada a less attractive place to do business.
A Facebook privacy tab is displayed on a computer screen showing a Facebook Help Centre page in Ottawa on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Here’s a look at the bill, now being studied by a House of Commons committee, and what people are saying about contentious elements of the legislation.
Threshold for obtaining subscriber information
Under the bill, authorities could demand that a telecommunications provider like Bell or Rogers reveal whether it provides service to an individual or a number of interest — a measure intended to speed up investigations.
Police would need reasonable suspicion that a crime has been or will be committed and be able to demonstrate that the information would be helpful in investigating that offence.
Currently, police can obtain a general production order from a court to go further and obtain subscriber information, such as the name, address and email linked to an account. The government says this can take time.
The new legislation would create a narrower court order that would allow police to seek subscriber information from a service provider.
Police would…
